Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 25

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

रामो हि भरताद्भूयस्तव शुश्रूषते सदा।विशेषं त्वयि तस्मात्तु भरतस्य न लक्षये।।।।

Transliteration

rāmo hi bharatād bhūyas tava śuśrūṣate sadā | viśeṣaṃ tvayi tasmāt tu bharatasya na lakṣaye ||

Translation

Si Rāma nga ay higit pang naglilingkod sa iyo kaysa kay Bharata, palagi; kaya wala akong nakikitang dahilan upang higit mong paboran si Bharata kaysa sa kanya.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• भरतात्: than Bharata/from Bharata
• भरतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• भूयः: more/still more
• भूयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/तुलनार्थ)
• Form: तुलनार्थ-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• तव: to you/for you
• तव: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• शुश्रूषते: serves
• शुश्रूषते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuśrūṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विशेषम्: distinction/special regard
• विशेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• त्वयि: in you/towards you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थ-निपातवत् (ablative used adverbially: therefore)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• भरतस्य: of Bharata
• भरतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• लक्षये: I perceive/see
• लक्षये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Context

Rama is doing greater service to you than Bharata. Therefore, I do not find any reason for you to have a special love for Bharata.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma requires impartiality and just evaluation: preference should align with merit and conduct, not manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha argues that Kaikeyī’s demand cannot be justified by devotion to Bharata, since Rāma has served her even more.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s consistent service and respect toward elders in the household is emphasized.